Date: Oct 17 1998 00:35:10 EDT
From: The RVers Corner Newsletter
Subject: Issue # 1

Inside this issue:

More on Winterizing
Winter battery storage and care
- How to safely store your battery for the winter.
Brake Lockup
- question and answer item
___________________________________________

More on Winterizing contributed by R.J.(Bob) Evans

Your instructions were pretty complete but I would add the following:
If you want winterizing to be a painless experience then take the time
the first time to effect some simple improvements to make the process
easier.

First, replace every pipe plug with a valve. Manufacturers will cut
whatever corners they can but you don't need to go along with them.
You need to add a valve to drain the fresh water tank, the water
heater and the drain lines under the kitchen. (there are usually two
lines coming down from the kitchen) You should be able to find cheap
brass ball valves at a hardware store, plastic valves would work too
if you can find them.

Second, install a water heater bypass kit if you haven't already got
one.

Third install two valves and a tee between the water pump and fresh
water tank such that you can isolate the tank and draw antifreeze from
a separate line. (this is the most important part if you want
winterizing to be a simple procedure.)

Screw another valve into the opening on the new tee fitting and attach
some flexible hose to that valve.

Now, to winterize simply shut off the valve next to the tank, open the
valve on the tee fitting, stick the hose in your antifreeze bottle and
start up the pressure pump. You will never have to pull a line off
again. Once you are done drawing in the antifreeze switch the valves
back so you are ready for fresh water.

We have set up our last three trailers this way and believe me it is
worth the effort to get it set up. We winterize at least twice a year
(once in fall and again when we return from Mexico) and it takes less
than five minutes each time.

R.J.(Bob) Evans


Winter battery storage and care

The ideal place to store your battery for the off season is a cool spot
in your garage or basement. A battery will lose some of it's charge when
not in use and a top up charge should be done monthly. The charge can also
leak across the surface of the battery through the dirt and residue on the
top. Clean the battery case with a baking soda solution, being carefull
not to get the solution into the battery fill caps.

Check the water level in the cells on a routine basis. When the battery
is being used and recharged, some gassing will occur. This will result in
water loss through evaporation and it is a normal event. You should check
the water level at least once a month during the camping season, and
before you store the battery for the winter. Be kind to your battery,
refill the cells with only distilled water. This water has no impurities
and can be purchased at most drugstores, grocery retailers, and other
outlets.

Brake lockup problem

RICHARD writes:
I have a problem which I wonder if you can help with. I bought a new
-used fiver. Took it on a 1200 mile maiden trip. No problems. Before going
up to Kelomna this past week I happened to notice the ground wire to left
rear brake was disconnected(cut). Thought I could fix that easily and did.
BUT, on leaving town, that wheel locked completely and I had to drag a
smoking wheel through an intersection to a safe spot where I disconnected
it again and went on about my business with 3 brakes. Any ideas as to what
I might find when I take this wheel off? Broken return spring? Not likely
as brake immediately released when I disconnected that ground wire.
Any suggestions.(Yes,I knw I should have checked all the bearings and
brakes before going any where) TIA Rich

HI RICHARD,

This sounds like a seal failure on that wheel. What happens, when the
seal fails, is that the wheel bearing grease gets into the brake shoes and
drum and will cause this lockup problem. Possibly the previous owner had
this problem and simply snipped the ground wire to prevent the brake from
functioning. Glad to hear the rest of your trip was successful.

You can fix this yourself if you are reasonably mechanically inclined.
Block the trailer wheel to prevent it from rolling. Jack up the axle on
that side (put the jack near the wheel to prevent bending the axle). Use a
jack stand for safety, remove the wheel, pry off the bearing dust cap with
a large flat screwdriver.
Inside you will find a large nut with a cotter pin through it to keep it
in it's position. Straighten out the cotter pin ends and pull out the
cotter pin, remove the bearing nut. Carefully pull out the thrust bearing
and the outer bearing to keep them clean and free of grit. Now you should
be able to pull off the brake drum and inspect all the goodies inside. If
everything inside is covered with grease then the seal has definitely
failed and the shoes will have to be replaced. (you can clean the old
shoes until the cows come home and never get the grease out of them).

Inspect the brake magnets for wear, they should have a flat surface with
no grooves and no obvious damage. The drum will have to be "turned",
meaning it will have to be machined to remove the imbedded grease layer.
(It is best to do both sides of the same axle to keep everything
balanced). If your magnet is worn, it is more economical to replace the
whole backing plate assembly, which replaces the shoes, springs, magnet,
etc., and you just remove 4 bolts and disconnect 2 wires to do this. If
your magnet and everything else looks okay, then you can clean everything
up, install a new seal, and reassemble.


Joke of the Day

Two guys are sitting in a bar, and one says to the other,
"This is a very unusual building, it's suicide proof!"
The other responds, "Oh, really, how do you know?"
The first says,"I built it...come on, I'll show you."
The two gents climb up to the roof and walk to the edge.
The first guy says,"Now, watch carefully." and with that
he jumps off the roof.
The other guy watches him falling, and falling, and falling.
When he reaches the third floor, he gets sucked in through
a window. A few minutes later, he arrives back on the roof
again, no worse for wear.
The second guy says,"That's great! Does it happen every time?"
The first says,"Yes, you try!"
So the second guy jumps off the edge of the roof and keeps
falling, and falling, and falling. When he reaches the third
floor, he keeps falling, and falling until he splatters on the
sidewalk below.
The first guy returns to the bar and is greeted by the bar
tender, who says,"You know, you're a real asshole when your
drunk Superman!"


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My advice is free and worth only what you gain from it !
Check out my "RVers Corner" website - http://www.rverscorner.com